Please take a moment today, Thursday, Dec. 1, to virtually advocate for Social Studies education during the 2016 NCSS Legislative Day.

WHEN:  Thursday, Dec. 1 between 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM

HOW: Visit http://www.socialstudies.org/advocacy/actioncenter and Find your Members’ Twitter, FaceBook and other helpful information by:

1. plugging in your zip code and clicking on the maginifying glass
2. clicking on your Senators or House members (one at a time) will reveal their contact information for various channels of communication, as well as other helpful information.

WHAT: Focus your messaging on issues and challenges Congressional offices can do something about immediately.

Next week Congress will make decisions about education funding. It is possible that they will do another "continuing resolution" that just maintains last year's budget through the Spring. That would mean important new programs created in ESSA that could provide much needed social studies resources would not be funded. Urge your Member of Congress to pass an appropriations bill that includes $1 billion for Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants and $6 million for National Programs that support high quality instruction in civics, geography, and history.

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Twitter

Please use hashtag: #NCSSLEG16

And mention @ncssnetwork in your tweet

Sample Tweets:

Please support effective history, civics, geography, & economics teaching-fund ESSA grants @1 billion & Natl Progs @ 6 million. Thank you! @ncssnetwork #ncssleg16

Essential-fund ESSA competitive grants in FY2017.  Could make a big difference to rural-urban schools-students @ncssnetwork #ncssleg16

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Facebook

Find your members’ Facebook page by visiting http://www.socialstudies.org/advocacy/actioncenter and following the instructions listed under “HOW” above.

Review the Talking Points at http://www.socialstudies.org/2016-talking-points-your-hill-visits to assist you and develop succinct text that conveys

Develop succinct text that:

• Introduces you
• Explains the importance of teaching civics, economics, geography, history, and what is happening in these subjects in your state (give examples)
• Weaves-in and support with your own examples, the specific requests in the Talking Points
• Offers to work with your Congressional office to help elevate the importance of teaching civics, economics, geography and history. Remember that the goal is to begin forging ongoing relationships with your Congressional offices.

Post your message on the Congressional Members’ Facebook page.

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E-mail

Check out the detailed Talking Points available here: http://www.socialstudies.org/2016-talking-points-your-hill-visits to assist you in developing your personalized e-mail text.

Develop text that communicates the following information:

• Introduces you
• Explains the importance of teaching civics, economics, geography, history, and what is happening in these subjects in your state (give examples)
• Weaves-in and supports with your own examples, the specific requests in the Talking Points
• Offers to work with your Congressional office to help elevate the importance of teaching civics, economics, geography and history. Remember that the goal is to begin forging ongoing relationships with your Congressional offices.

Visit the NCSS Action Center

• http://www.socialstudies.org/advocacy/actioncenter
• Under “Find Officials” plug in your zip code;
• Click on “compose message”
• Go back, as prompted, and select your Senators and your Representative; then
• Enter your message subject: “Please Fund ESSA Competitive Grants in FY2017”
• Enter your message text: Copy and paste your message to your member of Congress – do not include salutations – those are automatically included. Do include your customized signature.

Your message will be automatically sent to your Senators and House Representative.